Completed a design and build with SB Acoustics SB23MFCL45 and Markaudio CHN-50 as I wanted to do a WAW for some time now. Main goal is to push the limits in drivers, a (sub)woofer combined with a small FR driver for mids and highs.
Design considerations:
Design:
Design considerations:
- Separate cabinets for bass and midtweet to allow easier experimentation with different midtweet drivers. Additional benefit that it might prevent some colouration of the mid by bass frequencies.
- Closed cabinet for woofer. It doesn't have to go very low (e.g. <30hz is less of a concern for me) so rather choose the benefits of a sealed cabinet. Ideally no DSP enhancements such as LT.
- Active crossover using Minidsp SHD somewhere in 200hz-500hz range
- Distance between drivers <1/4 wavelength
- Midtweet at approx ear height
- SB23MFCL45 since: it's ~8inch woofer, I want to use it rather high up for a (sub)woofer to have enough overlap with small FR (it has a good response till >500hz), and it can go low enough sealed without LT or other filters.
- CHN-50 as I really like it as a midtweet. I have small children running around so don't dare to use an Alpair/MAOP 5😉. Potential to change this in future.
Design:
- Sealed midtweet cabinet of 3.25l with rubber feet
- Sealed bass cabinet with q of .6, 41l
- Settled on 300hz crossover frequency using LR4 for now. Tried some other ones e.g. 450hz but 300 sounded more balanced to me.
- Distance between driver centres is 20cm
Very nicely done,
I smile everytime i see braces like you have done :^)
The CHN-50 belies its barging price.
How do they sound
dave
I smile everytime i see braces like you have done :^)
The CHN-50 belies its barging price.
How do they sound
dave
Thanks all!
@planet10 guess where the inspiration for braces came from😉
First impression:
CHN-50 is a bargain indeed! I'm really amazed by the performance of CHN-50, even more when relieved from bass duties. Very clear vocals and midrange as well as detailed highs that I like in the smaller MA drivers. SB23MFCL45 plays effortless and delivers detailed bass with a punch when required. No boominess at all as expected from this design. I'm actually quite surprised how well both drivers integrate in upper bass, male voices etc. Note that I didn't apply any filters besides crossovers and matching driver levels.
@planet10 guess where the inspiration for braces came from😉
First impression:
CHN-50 is a bargain indeed! I'm really amazed by the performance of CHN-50, even more when relieved from bass duties. Very clear vocals and midrange as well as detailed highs that I like in the smaller MA drivers. SB23MFCL45 plays effortless and delivers detailed bass with a punch when required. No boominess at all as expected from this design. I'm actually quite surprised how well both drivers integrate in upper bass, male voices etc. Note that I didn't apply any filters besides crossovers and matching driver levels.
And some nearfield measurements for the ones interested:
I have to hurry up and finish a bookcase for my wife so I can make some of these. I really like the WAW format. My idea is to use two woofers push push by the floor and a larger full range, Eye of Sauron, at ear level. I like the white finish, modern and clean.
...but only as a PLLXO unless you heave a shed-load of impedance correction at it. 😉
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Eye of sauron asks for open baffle midtweet with one of the copper MA drivers! That would be a nice project.
FWIW, I just watched a YT video by Richard Vandersteen on how to measure the input impedance of any amp you might want to use in conjunction with such a line level XO. He notes that there’s no industry standard, and that most are measured at 1KHz (seldom the centre point for such an implementation ) and that it could be quite different at say 100 - 200Hz range, which would affect the effective filter slope.
Interesting guy, Mr V.
Interesting guy, Mr V.
And some fullrange measurements on just the CHN-50 in sealed enclosure:
Difference in top end is due to different mic position. First one I measured in between the drivers at approx 1 inch. Second one directly in front of CHN-50 at same distance. So in first measurement it has a slight off-axis response for top end. In hindsight could have just measured in front of CHN-50 due to lowish crossover.
The notch is not really audible to me, just a few db down (this is 1/24 smoothing btw). Suspect this is due to transition to resonance like most FR drivers have.
The notch is not really audible to me, just a few db down (this is 1/24 smoothing btw). Suspect this is due to transition to resonance like most FR drivers have.